Panel siding assembly with spacing and positioning elements and method

A spacing and locating device adapted for use in mounting panels to an outside surface of a wall in a manner to provide an air space between the siding assembly and the wall so that moist air in the air space is able to escape from the air space, where the assembly comprises:

• a) a plurality of laterally aligned panels having upper and lower panel edge portions and outside and inside surfaces,
• b) said panels being located at vertically spaced locations in a manner that each pair of upper and lower adjacent panels are positioned so that an upper front surface portion of the lower panel of the pair is adjacent to a lower rear surface portion of the upper panel of the pair at a laterally extending juncture location;
• said spacing and positioning device comprising;
• a) said spacing and positioning device being adapted to be used as one a plurality of said spacing and locating devices which are positioned at spaced locations along the juncture locations of the panels;
• b) each spacing and locating device comprising a spacing element which is in bearing engagement with the outside surface of the wall to space at least one of the panel from the outside surface of the wall and a positioning portion to locate relative vertical location of the device with at least one of the panels of an adjacent pair of panels or relative location of two adjacent panels to each other.